Shoe tread



Dec. 20, 192?.

N. H. NELSON SHOE TREAD 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed April 27. 1923IIzUeIL'OI" ZeZS lilelsom/ Dec. 20, 1927.

N. H. NELSON SHOE TREAD 2 SheetsQSheet 2 Filed April 27. 1923 Patented20, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

NELs n. NELSON, or MINNEAPOLIS, mNNEsoTA.

snoE rnnAn.

Application led April 27, 1923. Serial No. 635,111.,

My invention relates shoe treads.

Broadly it is the object of my invention to provide a cushioned tread ofthis Ykind s adapted particularly, though not exclusively for athleticshoes, said tread embodying integral sole and heelmembers,.pneumatically cushioned to promote the comfort of the wearer. 1A further object is to provide a hollow shoe tread of the present natureequipped with internal shape retaining reinforcing members, certain ofsaid members forming l suction cups at the bottom of the tread toprevent slipping.

Another object is to supply a tread of this kind designed for ready andpermanent application to the-ordinary shoe sole.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, which will appear in thefollowing description, the invention resides inv the novel combinationand arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed. Y

z 1 In the drawings, Fig. 1 is a bottom view of a shoe tread embodyingmy invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional view of a tread taken as n the line2-2 of Fig. 1, said tread being shown attachedl to a shoe which is shown30 partly in section and partly diagrammatica'lly; Fig. 3 is a sectionalview taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 2; Fig. 4: is a sectional vlew takenon the line 4-'-4 of Fig. l and Fig. 5 is a similar view taken on theline 5 5 of Referring tothe drawings, wherein similar referencecharacters have been usedto indicate similar parts throughout theseveral views, it will be observed that-my kimproved m tread serves asan outsole and comprises a combined sole and heel structure designed forapplication to the sli -sole of a shoe. Figs. 2, 4 and 5 illustrate t etread sewed to the 'slip-sole 1() of a shoe 11. Thev tread in- M cludesa sole section A and a heel section B,

' said sections being integral. 'Ihe structure is made 'up of a toppiece 12, bottom pieces 13 and 14 of the' sole and heel sections A andB, sides 15 of the former and sides 16 of the latter and a front orriser 17 of the heel section B. Strengthening webs a; between the upperland lower pieces 12 and 13, at the shank of the tread, reachv inwardfrom the sides, but do not meet at their inner edges. l This arrangementprovides a duct which to improvements in from their part in reinforcingbrings the hollow lsole and heel sections into communlcation with eachother. An endless recess 18 cast in the sides of the structure providesa marginal Hange19 at the upper edge of the structure through which aseam 20 is passed in sewing the` tread to a shoe sole. In both the. soleand heel sections are a p1urality of interspered, inverted cup-likemembers 2l. The crowns of these members 21 are integral with Athe toppiece 12, while the margins of said members, near the rims 21W thereof,are integral with the bottom pieces 13 and 14. In addition toreinforcing the tread structure, the cup-like members 21 supplynon-slipping suction cavities, the rims 2la of said members beingreadily conformable with slight irregularities in a supporting surfaceto enhance the gripping of the surface by suction. Said rims 2la alsosupply non-slipping projectons, the action. of which supplements thesuction gripping action of the tread structure. To further reinforcethetread longitudinally, I supply longitudinal ribs 22 `cast integrallywith the` top piece 12. The sole and 'heel sections A and B being incommunication one with the other as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, it will beunderstood that a hollow unitary structure is comprised thereby. lIn thefront or riser 17 of the heel section B, I insert an air valve 23 ofconventional type to which an air pump may be removably attached for thepurpose of inflatin the tread and lendinggreater resiliency t ereto.-

Being preferably formed of a good grade of live rubber the tread isrelatively light in weight and under the foot of the wearer. The suctioncup members 21, aside the structure, voperate effectively as non-slippinelements, not only upon a ioor, but upon tie ground, as well. j f

Changes in the specific form of my invention, as herein disclosed, 1 maybe made within the scope of what is claimed without departing from thespirit of my invention.

'Having described my invention, what I claim as new and desire toprotect by Letters Patentis:

1. In a tread for shoes, hollow resilient sole and heel sectionsintegral and communieating with each other, inverted cup-like membersjoined at their crowns with the tops of said sections, and at theirmargins near the rims thereof with the bottoms of 110 said sections,longitudinal ribs within the thereof \with the lower wall of thestructure, structure, said ribs and inverted cup-like the walls of saidcup-like members being members serving to reinforce the structure,spaced from one another intermediate said and a valved passage forintroducing air upper and lower wallsto form suction gripi into one ofsaid sections. l pe'i's and structural reinforcements for said 2. treadfor shoes comprising a hollow tread, the margins of said cup-likemembers resilient structure having interspersed, inprotruding outwardlybeyond said lower verted cup-like members joined at the wall tosupplement the suctional gripping crowns thereof with the top of thestructure action of said members. i 10 and at their margins near therims thereof 5, In a, pneumatic. tread for shoes, aholwith the bottom ofthe structure, and a low resilient tread section, suction cups invalvedpassage for introducing air to the interspersed within the hollowportion of said terior of the structure. j tread section andlongitudinally extending 3 A tread for shoes comprising a hOlloW ribsdisposed within said tread and between 15 resilient struc-ture formedwith upper and said suction cups for reinforcing said tread lower spacedwalls, a plurality of interlongitudinally.

`spersed inverted cup-like members `joined at` 6 In a pneumatic treadfor shoes, a hold the CIQWIIS thefeof With the I )P Wlll and lowresilient tread section, suction cups inat then' ma'glns near th? flms)mth the terspersed within the hollow portion of said 20` bottom wall,the walls of said cup-like mcmtread section and longitudinally extendingbersbelng spaced IOm 011e another mtel'- ribs disposed within said treadand between medlate Said upper and 10WI` W illlS t0 fOTHl said suctioncups for lreinforcing said tread SHOT/1011 gl'lppel's and StructuralTBIDOICG- longitudinally, said ribs being integral with ments OI S21-1dtreadj the top of the structure and of a depth 25 4. A tread OI ShOeSCOmpllSlIlg a hOHOW short of confining the movement of air fromresilient structure formed with upper and one part of Said Section toanother.

lower spaced walls, a plurality of inter- In testimony whereof, l havesigned my spersed inverted cup-like members joined at name to thisSpecification, the crowns thereof with the upper wall and f o attheirmargins inwardly from the rims NELS H., NELSON.

